Airports across the Middle East are bracing for a very busy weekend. It could be chaotic too.

Dubai, the world's busiest international airport, and its main carrier Emirates are scrambling to make sense of the new rules. Emirates is one of nine airlines at 10 airports across the Middle East and North Africa that need to roll out the U.S. ban on electronic devices larger than a smartphone in the cabin.

U.S. officials say intelligence shows that al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, and other terrorist groups, are perfecting techniques for hiding explosives in batteries and battery compartments. The U.K. has introduced similar restrictions for some flights from the region but omitted the big Gulf airports and carriers from its list.

Emirates is worried about the impact on its business, and moved Thursday to ease the pain for passengers.

Passengers starting their journey in Dubai would be "encouraged" to check in devices with their luggage, but would be able to keep them until boarding, the airline said. Transit passengers will be able to use their laptops and tablets until they arrive at the gate for their U.S.-bound flight from Dubai.

"They must then declare and hand over their laptops, tablets, and other banned electronic devices to security staff at the gate just before boarding their US-bound flight," the airline said in a statement.

Turkish Airlines said early Friday it would also allow passengers to continue using their devices until the boarding gate, where they would be tagged for "safe and secure transportation" in the cargo hold.

"To suggest that Dubai doesn't have the equal capabilities or better than the Europeans, the Americans and the Asians in terms of search, interdiction and surveillance, I find amazing," he told CNNMoney. "I know this airport."